Broncos face tough roster decisions this offseason

By Mike KlisThe Denver Post

Posted:
12/25/2013 10:58:54 PM MST

Updated:
12/25/2013 11:00:20 PM MST

The Broncos are built around quarterback Peyton Manning (18), but the team could be without Manning s top target, Eric Decker (87), next season. The wideout is one of 16 Broncos headed for free agency. (Associated Press)

ENGLEWOOD -- For some well-known Broncos, this is it.

The game Sunday at Oakland will be the last time during the regular season a few players headed for unrestricted free agency will wear a Broncos uniform.

There will be another one, two or three games to play in the postseason, but regardless of how long the Broncos survive in the NFL's single-elimination tournament, the end for some is near.

The Broncos have 16 players headed for free agency, including 12 who have started at least one game in 2013. The list ranges from every-game offensive starters Eric Decker, Knowshon Moreno and Zane Beadles to veteran backups Quentin Jammer, Michael Huff and Winston Justice.

The way it works with free agents in the NFL's salary cap economy, it's often the better players who are the most difficult to re-sign.

"You always have some interesting decisions to make, especially if you have a good football team," said John Elway, who heads the football operations department of the 12-3 Broncos. "The better you are, the harder the decisions."

The defending Super Bowl-champion Baltimore Ravens are the latest example. A monthafter celebrating in New Orleans in early February, the Ravens parted with prominent starters Anquan Boldin, Dannell Ellerbe, Paul Kruger, Cary Williams and Ed Reed largely because they couldn't afford them.

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Exactly which players will be re-signed and which will move on will be decided by Elway's football operations department, and in some cases by the players themselves.

Decker figures to be the highest priority but also the most expensive to re-sign. The Broncos are built around Peyton Manning, and the quarterback's top two receivers in the past two seasons have been Decker and Demaryius Thomas, a free agent after the 2014 season.

Given the contracts of similar No. 2 receivers in the league, Decker can command a deal of least five years and $40 million, with at least $8 million in the first year.

The toughest decision may be on Moreno. The Broncos drafted Ronnie Hillman two years ago in the third round and Montee Ball this year in the second round, with the plan of replacing Moreno when he became a free agent after this season.

But nothing alters plans like player performance. Moreno has been invaluable as a rusher (1,015 yards), receiver (55 catches) and blocker (Manning has taken a league-low 17 sacks).

But Moreno's market value of at least $4 million per year may be difficult to fit under the team's projected salary cap of $126.3 million.

Before the 2012 season, the Broncos re-signed middle linebacker Joe Mays to a three-year, $12 million contract of which $4.5 million was guaranteed. Given this, it appeared a month ago linebacker Wesley Woodyard could command at least three years and $15 million, with more than $5 million guaranteed.

But the five-year captain has been reduced to a sub-package player in recent weeks. Although his value may be reduced, Woodyard would likely generate interest in the free-agent market.

Meanwhile, the Broncos likely need to defeat the Raiders on Sunday to secure the No. 1 AFC playoff seed.

"We're going to finish this year out and concentrate on this year," Elway said. "We'll worry about next year next year."

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